18/12/2021 – REPORT – Alresford Colne Rangers FC versus Stanway Pegasus FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC: 2. STANWAY PEGASUS FC: 2.
Date: Saturday 18th December 2021. Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford.
This Saturday, with many Clubs and Teams opting not to play, and they were given the choice, we are conscious that we all have a long way to go to beat this COVID-19 pandemic, so a very much reduced fixture list, eight matches, at least threw up an interesting, re-arranged match, in the Premier Division. Fourth placed, Alresford Colne Rangers FC {Alresford}(thirty-eight points) are the only team to have taken points off “Champions elect” Stanway Pegasus FC {Pegasus}(fifty-two points), who have won seventeen of their eighteen matches to date as well as having scored the most goals, sixty-five, and conceded the fewest, fourteen. It was also my first viewing of the League leaders having spread my coverage across all six divisions so far this season, this game was almost on my doorstep, so any way to avoid Christmas traffic, through and around Colchester was most welcome.
On a damp and cold pre-Christmas Saturday, the Match Official for this fixture was Simon Lyons who would be assisted by Mariusz Burhan and Philip Barham, a decent crowd gradually collected and was reckoned to be in excess of one hundred and twenty, I would have counted myself, but people kept moving about, it helps with the social distancing!
Alresford kicked-off and developed a positive attack down the right side forcing Rhaiti to concede a corner, taken by Johnson with Barron heading firmly clear allowing Pegasus to break forward with the pace of Griffiths testing the home defence to gain a corner, taken by Rhaiti but cleared by Hughes. The visitors kept up the pressure, Griffiths found Chapman who set Rhaiti away down the right side and from his pass Griffiths controlled the ball, turned to his right and smacked a dipping left-footed shot against the cross-bar with keeper, Spencer well beaten. If the first five minutes were anything to go by then this game was going to be open, fast, and furious and end-to-end with Alresford getting a sight of goal when Jackson hit tamely towards keeper, Henly, the early home approach would be hit long and chase, that changed as the game progressed. A long ball forward from Hughes almost set Knill-Jones away but Marangou covered this time and when Dillon slipped when trying to chest the ball down Knill-Jones instinctively tried his luck from thirty yards out, the ball drifting just too high and wide. When Pegasus lost the ball in midfield Jackson capitalised to set another home attack going, getting the ball to Lewis who was crowded out by Minter, the visitors tried to play the ball around, perhaps over-playing at times which allowed Alresford to double back to defend. Dillon was pulled up for a foul when diving in on Rogers from which Lewis, Knill-Jones and Johnson got forward with the ball set back to Lewis who shot over the cross-bar from just outside the penalty area.
After fifteen minutes of pulsating football there should have been a breakthrough, a poor back-pass by Barnes, put his keeper Spencer in no-man’s land, Booth seized upon the loose ball, went round a desperate challenge from Spencer but having been forced wide it gave Spencer a second chance to tackle, Booth ran on with defenders closing in, only for Spencer to foul Booth and concede a “nailed-on” penalty. As Booth lined up his kick, I turned to Alresford stalwart, Dickie Bird, and said, “keeper, go right”, Spencer did and saved low to his right side as he alone breathed a sigh of relief for his indiscretion. Higgleton found Johnson and he forced another corner off of Rhaiti which was cleared but Barron dived into a challenge on Johnson, played continued but with possession lost the referee rightly brought play back for a free-kick just on the edge of the penalty area with Lewis hitting the defensive wall with his kick. Higgleton sent in a great cross from the left side, defender, Marangou rose to head the ball even higher with his keeper, Henly able to clutch the ball near his goal-line. Alresford were enjoying a bright spell mid-way through this half, Hughes linked up with Johnson to find Lewis whose shooting boots let him down and keeper, Henly fielded a tame effort. Johnson was relishing his midfield role and many home moves started or went through him, a forward pass sent Lewis away down the right side, but the cross was headed away by Barron, who had missed nothing in the air so far and Johnson then forced a corner off Dillon. Pegasus raised their effort ratio and Booth linked up with Griffiths to force a corner off Barnes, taken by Rhaiti but headed clear by Rogers to Booth standing almost thirty-five yards from goal from where, with speed of thought and action, he tried an audacious effort that would have caught everyone out if it had not drifted wide of the unguarded goal. On twenty-nine minutes a goal, Booth held the ball up well on the left side before sending a deep cross to CALLUM GRIFFITHS who despite stumbling, controlled the ball, then swept it home with keeper, Spencer given little chance at full stretch.
The Alresford response was immediate, as you would expect, they gained a corner only for it to be cleared and Pegasus broke away with Booth chasing the ball out from Barron, but keeper Spencer was quickly out to the edge of his penalty area. Tackles flew in, nothing malicious but some strong and determined challenges as the referee tried to let the game flow, it certainly was developing into a feisty match. Minter sent Sabini away and from his cross, Booth controlled the ball with a fine touch then turned away from Barnes before rifling a shot at goal, whether it was going in near the post, I’m not sure, but keeper, Spencer, again at full length, tipped the ball away for a corner. This corner was only partially cleared as when Griffiths burrowed his way into the penalty area, a big shout went up from the visitors, bench for a spot kick when Barnes seemingly took the player from behind, from my position on the other side of the pitch, it looked indeed like the defender got his toe to the ball first, a big call for the on-the-spot referee. Within a minute the referee had another contentious call to make at the other end, Johnson was sent tumbling inside the penalty area, again nothing was given but when Marangou made an error when trying to pass his way out of defence, Johnson should have scored but keeper, Henly made a fine save in a one-on-one situation. When Minter was pressurised by Johnson, a corner was gained, it’s getting noisy out there, even more so when, from the in-swinging corner taken by Johnson, was headed goal-wards by Lewis, Barron, standing on the goal-line appeared to handle, was it deliberate or was in a deflection off his leg before hitting his arm, too far away for me to tell but the referee waved away some keen protestations from the home team.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 1.
Hume was replaced for the second half by Gray for Alresford, another fine cross from Higgleton was surprisingly missed by Barron and this allowed a free-header for Lewis who headed wide, big chance that! At the other end a typical marauding run by Dillon saw him get into the penalty area but was eventually stopped by Barnes, standing firm when needed, Booth was similarly stopped by Hargreaves and Chapman for Pegasus went down injured, off the ball, left the field for treatment then returned, he had been a key element to the Pegasus mid-field. On fifty-one minutes a deserved equaliser for Alresford, Dillon fouled Hughes right on the edge of the penalty area, keeper, Henly had four players in the defensive wall but RYAN LEWIS sent a fine free-kick wide of the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net, game on! This end-to-end game continued, keeper, Spencer saved another effort from a Booth free-kick and his opposite number did well to save from Lewis who gave chase to a long ball forward from Radford. When Marangou tried to play out using keeper, Henly, he was dispossessed by Gray but Henly, recovered to make amends, it’s getting a bit edgy now! A lofted cross from Booth was heading innocuously into the arms of keeper, Spencer, running towards the edge of his penalty area, he who had called for the ball, but central defender Barnes decided there was danger and headed the ball wide for a corner kick. The corner taken by Rhaiti was curling towards the near post, to me, Minter bulked the advance of keeper, Spencer, who failed to get a proper punch on the ball and when it broke loose CRAIG MINTER took advantage to score from close range and queue some more discussion with the referee who was probably unsighted due to the number of players inside the six-yard box.
This game was by no means over, there were thirty minutes still to play, Booth set Griffiths away, another last-ditch tackle from Barnes was not enough and keeper, Spencer saved with his feet with Barnes picking up the first caution of the match soon after for a foul on Chapman. On sixty-eight minutes Alresford replaced Rogers and Knill-Jones with Gregory and Murphy whilst Johnson teased the ball this way then that before forcing a save out of keeper, Henly who had advanced to narrow the chance. Rhaiti, for Pegasus had been running up and down all game so when he burst through a static Alresford defence it was left to keeper, Spencer who once again saved with his feet, what a game he is having!
With fifteen minutes remaining Pegasus replaced Sabini with Aves, Griffiths ran though against Barnes, a tackle came in the ball stood up and Griffiths could not avoid handling the ball with only the keeper to beat, so frustrating for that move to end like that! Pegasus made two late changes with ten minutes to go, Dillon and Daniels were replaced by Barker and Elliot and once again Griffiths was denied by a great save from keeper, Spencer. At the other end Hargreaves saw his fine shot with the outside of his right foot, flash narrowly wide, then Hargreaves forced keeper, Henly into a fine save as well, for sure, this game is going to the wire! Gregory worked his way in from the left side only to be blocked off by Minter and from his pass forward Griffiths raced across the half-way line, but any further progress was halted by a crunching challenge from Barnes who picked up his second yellow card of the match and he kept walking to the Changing Rooms as the inevitable red card followed. In the last minute of normal time Gregory, for Alresford, found space on the left side and sent in a fine cross which fell behind the last Pegasus defender, keeper Henly could only palm the ball away to JACK JOHNSON who was in the gap to pounce and score a dramatic equaliser and queue some wild celebrations from the home team.
FULL TIME: 2 – 2.
For starters this hastily re-arranged fixture was played out to the full, no quarter given or taken, full blooded, a fair bit of controversy here and there, but with a lot of effort and skill and enthusiasm, personally I thought the match official had an excellent game, letting the game flow, with liberal use of any cards until it really mattered. Could there have been a winner, possibly, but it would have been to the detriment of the losers, either way, in my opinion a draw was very fair, for the second time this season, I witnessed Alresford snatch something from a game, “lastminute.com” eat your heart out. I considered this to be one of the best, if not, the best match I have watched this season, Alresford, the home team, once again took a point away from Pegasus, they deserved that reward and perhaps Pegasus will rue missed chances, including a missed penalty, and not just because the home keeper was in inspired mood.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player, plenty of contenders, too many to mention here, from both teams and my choice had swayed this way then that as this game evolved, even my close colleagues on my side of the pitch were equally at a loss until we considered the numerous saves made by Peter Spencer of Alresford Colne Rangers FC, enough said.
In closing, may I, on behalf of the ESBFL Management Committee wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, keep well, safe and be careful if venturing out, assuming we still can!
Teams:
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC:
Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Peter Spencer., Sam Hume., Jack Higgleton., Finlay Hughes., Lewis Rogers., Lee Barnes., Jack Johnson., Kieran Radford., Ryan Lewis., Sam Knill-Jones., Lewis Hargreaves.
Management: Lee Purchase., David Dance and Andrew Smith.
Used Substitutes: Connor Murphy., Tommy Gregory., Josh Gray.
Unused Substitute: James Gill.
STANWAY PEGASUS FC:
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Team:
William Henly., Gianni Sabini., Samir Rhaiti., Josh Dillon., George Barron., Craig Minter., Reife Marangou., Joshua Chapman., Max Booth., Keian Daniels.
Management: Ian Booth., Rosi Webb.
Used Substitutes: Jay Barker., Kane Elliot., Elliot Aves.
Unused Substitutes: Daniel Shaikly., Aaron Collier.
Referee: Simon Lyons.
Assistant Referees: Philip Barham and Mariusz Burchan.
Star Player: Peter SPENCER (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC)
REMINDERS:
MATCH NOTIFICATIONS
Fixture Secretaries of Clubs are required to notify all match details, date, venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, at least FIVE days before the match.
KICK-OFF TIMES
January: 14:00pm
February: 14:30pm
March, to end of season: 15:00pm
ESBFL CUP TIES: 30 minutes earlier, if necessary.
ECFA CUP TIES: Kick-Off as advertised
CUP TIES
There will be NO requirement for “Extra-Time” to be played in Cup Matches, if scores are level at the end of “normal time” the match will proceed directly to penalty kicks.
SUBSTITUTES
The ESBFL continues to allow FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named before kick-off but only “THREE SUBSTITUTES” may be allowed to participate.
Note:
In Essex County Cups (Premier & Junior) the Rule allows FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named and those FIVE SUBSTITUTUES may be used on a “Roll-On / Roll-Off” basis.
TEAM SHEETS
Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc
The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.
RESULTS REPORTING
Rule 21(B)
BOTH Clubs shall notify/SMS the result of each Competition Match to the Competition within 30 minutes of the finish of the match. This will include Football Association and County Football Association matches. The results of all League and Cup matches in the Competition should be reported by the FA Full-Time “SMS” (text) System. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
FA FULL-TIME
The Referees marks, team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, and sin-bin, etc MUST be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match). Failure to complete FAFT correctly and on time WILL incur a League Fine/s.
DISCIPLINE
Since the start of the season there have been 45+ players dismissed and over 600 cautions, there have also been several incidences of misconduct towards players, Match officials, members of the public and county officials. These are situations the ESBFL Management feel very strongly about, and the statistics make poor reading, the ECFA will deal with all these cases as deemed appropriate but bear in mind these actions can be very costly both for players and your, Clubs.
WHOLE GAME SYSTEM (“WGS”)
All Club Secretaries should check “WGS” on a regular basis, if you don’t, the ECFA levy a fine (25%) for late acknowledgements and payments of fines and the Club could be put into a “SINE-DIE” situation meaning they cannot play until those debts are cleared.
Club Secretaries are also responsible for adding the matches missed by players who have been suspended.
Whilst the ESBFL regularly reviews the whole Club contents on “WGS” it is not their responsibility to monitor failures by Member Clubs to follow basic procedure/s.
REFRESHMENTS
Rule 20A
Refreshments for BOTH teams and Match Officials MUST be provided by the home Club at half time unless these are declined before the game. Clubs in default shall be fined.
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